Support for the little ones: how the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights works during the war

The war in Ukraine caused colossal suffering to the most vulnerable – children. During hostilities, children face terrible challenges: deportation, forced displacement, loss of loved ones, witnessing war crimes. In such circumstances, the state has an extremely important role – to provide support and protection for children who have experienced traumatic experiences. That is why the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights was created in Ukraine, which became a key tool for helping affected children. December 21 Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reminded about this important initiative by providing an infographic. IA “FAKT” tells in detail about the activities of the Center. We hope that this information will be useful for parents, guardians, human rights defenders and anyone who wants to know more about his activities.

Center for protection of children’s rights: mission and activities

The Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights was opened on May 31, 2023 at the initiative of the President of Ukraine. It functions on the basis of the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with the support of UNICEF. The mission of the Center is to create a safe space for comprehensive support of children, ensuring their best interests and promoting reintegration into society.

This Center works to support and protect the rights of children, especially those who have suffered as a result of war, deportation or forced displacement. The center was created to help children cope with the consequences of tragic events, ensure their return to normal life and guarantee the realization of their rights. Its activities include reintegration of children into society, restoration of violated rights, psychological and practical assistance. It is a safe place that works to ensure the best interests of children and is an example of how the state and international partners work together to help the most vulnerable categories of the population.

The center works with children who:

• returned from deportation;
• experienced forced displacement or lived in temporarily occupied territories;
• became witnesses or victims of war crimes committed as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.

The Center is home to the Department for Monitoring Compliance with Children’s Rights. There is also a reception for citizens, where both children and adults can apply.

Reintegration of children: a key area of ​​work

Each child who returns from deportation or has experienced a severe traumatic experience faces unique challenges. That is why the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights became the starting point for the reintegration of such children.

To work with these children, a multidisciplinary team has been created, which includes:

• specialists of the Office of the Ombudsman;
• representatives of executive authorities;
• law enforcement officers;
• psychologists;
• public organizations.

This team works to provide comprehensive care and support for children.

What exactly does the Center offer?

The Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights employs a multi-disciplinary team that assesses the needs of the child and family. It is important that the child not only returns home, but also receives a complex of psychosocial support, feels safe, overcomes injuries and adapts to a new stage of life.

The Center also develops an individual plan for accompanying the child and restoring violated rights: a comprehensive process covering all aspects of the child’s life, from emotional support to social stability.

In addition, specialists help the child and his family overcome the consequences of traumatic events. Psychological support is provided as much as each specific family needs.

At the same time, the Center helps with recovery of lost documents, organization of temporary housing and medical examination. At the same time, at each stage of reintegration, the family receives the necessary help – from emergency to stabilization.

How the Center works

The Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights works according to the “Barna-hus” model, which was created to ensure child-friendly justice. This model ensures that every child who is a victim or witness of war crimes or other wrongdoing is given the opportunity to be heard in a safe and supportive environment. The main principle of the model is to avoid re-traumatization of the child, guaranteeing him respect for dignity and proper treatment.

A feature of this model is the use of specialized interviews for children. Interviews are conducted in the presence of psychologists and investigators who work in close cooperation. This approach allows you to get the information necessary for the investigation, while providing the child with comfort and protection. In the process of pre-trial investigation, children receive comprehensive, coordinated assistance in specially created friendly conditions where they feel safe.

In addition, the Center uses modern technologies to avoid additional stressful situations for the child. For example, during court proceedings, the possibility of online inclusion is provided, which allows children to give evidence without being physically present in the courtroom. This reduces the level of emotional stress and helps maintain psychological well-being.

The “Barna-hus” model also works with children who have become victims of criminal offenses or were suspects in such cases. The Center provides them with the necessary support, creating conditions for a fair and sensitive investigation. Thanks to this approach, children receive not only legal protection, but also psychological help, which is extremely important for overcoming the consequences of traumatic events.

Thus, the “Barna-hus” model at the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights demonstrates a new level of care for children who find themselves in difficult life circumstances. It allows you to effectively combine the justice process with the provision of emotional comfort and safety for the child, providing him with comprehensive support.

How to contact the Center

If your child’s rights have been violated, you can contact the Child Rights Protection Center:

Address: str. Instytutska, 21/8, m. Kyiv, 01008.

Email: hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua

Phones: 0 800 501 720, 044 299 74 08